Rear Admiral Thomas W. Marotta

Rear Adm. Thomas Marotta is a New Jersey native and 1985 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and was designated a naval aviator in March 1987. Marotta has completed Capstone, the U.S. Air Force Air Command and Staff College Joint Professional Military Education program, and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government Black Sea Security Course.

Flying the F-14 Tomcat, Marotta twice deployed with Fighter Squadron (VF) 21 to the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean, the second in support of Operation Desert Shield. In 1991, Marotta reported for instructor duty with the “Gunfighters” of VF-124, where he was chosen by his peers as the 1992 Pacific Fleet F-14 Instructor of the Year. In 1994, Marotta became Cag Paddles for Carrier Air Wing 14, completing his third deployment, in support of Operation Southern Watch.

Marotta left active service in 1995 and affiliated with VF-201 at Naval Air Station (NAS) Dallas. He remained with the “Hunters” as they moved to NAS Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base and transitioned to the F/A-18 Hornet. He took command of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 201 in March 2002. The squadron was mobilized in October 2002 and deployed in USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Follow on tours included commanding officer of Navy Reserve (NR) Carriers Northeast 0209, a unit supporting Atlantic Fleet carriers; commanding officer of NR Task Force Navy Casualty in support of Navy Casualty Assistance and POW/MIA Affairs; commanding officer of Navy Reserve; commander Naval Forces Europe/Commander U.S. 6th Fleet Maritime Partnership Program Det. 513 conducting international engagement operations in the Black/Caspian Sea Region; and deputy commander, Navy Reserve Component Command Southeast. As a flag officer, he has served as deputy commander, Navy Recruiting Command and vice commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command /U.S. 5th Fleet.